Thank you to Raye Vann and Apocalyptic-Mess for these tributes! Keep reading and reviewing please!
The Reaping of District Ten (Enter Jinnal Leriss POV)
It was my favorite type of day. Rain pattered down the sides of our house making different shapes on the windows. Since it was the day of the reaping Mother was making rabbit stew; another one of my favorites. My brother, Saran, and two of his friends were cracking jokes and playing card games. I could her Mother singing as she cooked. If today wasn't the day 2 of our number were going to be shipped off to die, it would be perfect.
It's going to be awful. It's my first reaping and I'm scared to death. My brother and my only friend, Harriet, have tried to convince me that it will be ok. They told me since I only have one slip in the reaping ball that I won't be chosen. I'm still trying to believe them.
"Hey, Jinnal, come on you can be on my team for this game." My brother said. Together we try and beat his friends Maddox and James at cards and fail miserably. My brother and I are really different when it comes to looks. He's big and I'm scrawny. I have curly blond hair and he has short dark brown hair. Everyone likes Saran. He is very popular and is 16 years to my 12. I'm pretty sure that Harriet has a crush on him but whenever I ask she doesn't respond.
"Boys, I've got lunch ready." Came my mom's soft voice from the kitchen. My mom is the best person in the world. She had become a little unstable since our father left her when I was a year old. Despite this we are happy. Life is as good as it can be for us.
Saran and his friends tore into the stew with gusto, perpetrating small laughs from my mother and myself. They ate like pigs, so I told them as much. James started to roar with laughter. For the furthering of our entertainment Saran and Maddox tried and failed to make pig noises while slurping down stew.
We all dressed quickly. The rain had stopped but the sky seemed to promise another storm. Together the five of us made our way through the streets to the square, where most of the district was standing ready. Everyone looked depressed. Mother left to go watch in the crowd. Saran walked me to the 12 year old section as James and Maddox went to the 16 year old section without him.
"Jinnal, listen man, it's going to be ok alright. They won't pick you. You'll be fine promise." He said. He spoke with such conviction that I wanted so bad to believe him, even though I knew he couldn't guarantee anything.
"Ok Saran. Love you."
"Love ya too kid." He ruffled my hair before walking away.
The mayor began the reaping soon after. He read the history of the world before Panem was founded, the events of the Dark Days that led to the Treaty of Treason and the birth of the Hunger Games. I could see people sifting restlessly, wanting more than anything for this to be over. Next up was our loud obnoxious escort, Mantee. He's a small guy with deep blue eyes and a different color wig each year. This year's wig was silver. He drew a female name.
"Constance Welch." A scared looking girl made her way on stage. She looks about sixteen. As she takes her place Mantee goes over too pull a boy name for the selection of male tribute.
He cleared his throat before reading, "Jinnal Leriss." Every eye turned to me. I try and look brave since everyone is looking at me. However as I look through the crowd I spot my mother's horrified face and burst into tears. I'm still crying as I walk toward the stage. I see Saran in the crowd. He looks shocked, as if the fact I'm going to die hasn't sunk in yet. I try and run to him but the peacekeepers pull me toward the platform before I can. I cry harder as I'm pulled on stage next to the other tribute. She gives me a sympathetic look that I barley catch through my tears.
I wonder how much it hurts to die…
_Flashback 2.5 Hours_
(Enter Constance "Case" Welch POV)
"Case! Come down from there before you fall and break your neck." Yelled my sister Aneliegh. I had climbed the 10 foot tall tree in our backyard. I loved the tree. I felt like I was on adventure or as close to it as I could get whenever I climbed to the top. It was like I could see the whole world from up there.
Annie doesn't get how happy exploring makes me. She can't understand why I'm so naturally curious about everything. She is like my mother in many ways since our mom disappeared when we were 8 and 10 years old. Father had to spend and ever increasing amount of time working to the point we hardly saw him. Annie has taught me all I know when it comes to cooking and fishing. I'm lucky to have her. Slowly I climb down the tree as to not break my neck. When I get down Annie has a tongue lashing and meal ready for me.
"Case you need to stop gallivanting off like that since you never tell me where you're off to. Especially with today being the reaping and all. Just think a bit next time okay?"
"I will Annie. Promise." I say to placate her. We both know I don't mean it. I hate rules and go out of my way to ignore them. She knows this but it never stops her from trying to rein me in. We eat a small meal before Annie sends me off to clean up for the reaping. She's already ready of course. We leave without waiting for our father, since he is working-shocker- again this morning.
Instead of going straight to the square where the reaping is taking place we head to my friend, Dean's house. We arrive at his small house. He waits for us outside the door dressing in his cleanest clothes. Dean is very tall dwarfing me and Annie. He has short brown hair and green eyes. He is always very protective of me. If he sees guys staring at me he's been known to hand them black eyes.
When we got to the square it was nearly full. The three of us were some of the last to arrive. Luckily we have Dean who can part crowds easily; we just have to stay close to him. We near the front before splitting up. Both Dean and I are only 16 but Aneliegh is 18 so she has to go all the way up front.
I don't pay attention to the mayor. I never pay attention to the mayor. But when Mantee the district escort comes up he receives my full attention. He is the person who seals the fate of two people. I shake as he selects a name for female tribute.
"Constance Welch." I hear Dean's gasp of shock at my name but it seems to come from a far off. Like Dean is on a whole other planet. I feel myself start to shake and it's not from the cold left by the recent rainstorm.
As I make my way toward my doom there's no way to deny the fact that I'm scared as hell. Most likely I will die. It's almost certain that I'll die. I'm just thankful that it was me and not Annie. She still has to take care of our father. I wait to see which male will join in on my dismal fate which has to be shared.
"Jinnal Leriss." All the crowd turns in the direction of a small, pale blond boy. He looks as if he could be around 12. He bursts into tears before beginning to walk toward the platform. Near the front he seems to spot someone he recognizes. He attempts to run for them only to be grabbed and hauled on stage. I give him a sympathetic look that I'm not sure he catches through his tears.
The crowd looks edge. Many women are crying for the boy; nobody is happy when 12 year olds are picked. It's not fair. Nothing anyone could do about it. The mayor was back up finishing his speech. When he tells us to shake hands I give the boy another smile. He still looks terrified but is no longer crying. He gives me a small barley there smile back.
"I give you our tributes for District 10. Constance Welch and Jinnal Leriss."
I really enjoyed writing this one.